Good, Old Fashion Autumn Book Burnin'

[brianblackberry]

Update: Apparently pastor Jones has canceled the Qu'ran burning after striking a deal to have Islamic cultural center close to Ground Zero in New York relocated. Update again: now it appears that deal for moving the Islamic Center near Ground Zero never happenedOriginal post

Comments

[shockwave77598]

I agree that it's not a wise thing to do. But if he simply couches it in terms of "you burn our bibles there, and we'll burn your Qrans here" then the radicals on all sides will have less ammo to work with. And who knows, he may actually get the point across to certain folks overseas -- you can't demand respect when you fail to show that same respect to others.

On the other hand, what will probably happen is he'll get assassinated for his "atrocity". And when that happens, I will fully support a "Everybody burn a Quran because they can't kill us all!" day. Unpopular speech needs protecting -- popular speech does not. Even if it's speech I personally don't agree with, I'll be damned before I let any religious flake (of ANY religion) start controlling what I can and cannot do.

[brianblackberry]

I suppose I look at it as not changing anything. The media can play his burnings off as something a religious bigot would just do and thus give people a reason to brush it off and ignore any counter book burnings n the Islamic world.

I don't think he will be killed though, that is more challenging here in America then in most places. Of course if he does, that may spark something in most Americans that their freedom is intimately threatened.

[gen]

Did you ever hear the story about the Carmelite nuns who had set up near Auschwitz? Many Jews found it offensive that Christians had set themselves up nearby to pray for the souls of Jewish men and women.

Eventually the pope himself had to be the one to tell them to leave. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/15/world/pope-orders-nuns-out-of-auschwitz.html

It's as you say, just because someone has the right to do something, doesn't make it right.

[brianblackberry]

I remember encountering this story when searching more in depth about the "Ground Zero Mosque", because it presents such a contrast. Here the Pope realizing that such a covenant would be offensive to Jews, despite the good intentions of the nuns, and had the wisdom to have it stopped. Alas it seems the folks behind the Islamic Cultural Center don't have the sense, or worse they only really care about showing they can do what they want no matter what that action represents to everyone else.

[direwolf23]

I agree with everything here.

I do think we, as a global community, need to stand up against any group that responds to non-violent acts of freedom of expression with violence, especially to the murderous degree with which many Muslims do. I have no idea why we've allowed such bending to fear already. There should have been a world-wide backlash when that cartoonist's life was threatened, and every subsequent incident.

[brianblackberry]

There should have been a world-wide backlash when that cartoonist's life was threatened, and every subsequent incident.

There should have been but political correctness mixed with fear is a powerful force. People are so worried about looking 'intolerant' they cannot stand up for anything.

[banner]

I'm thinking of going out and buying a koran and burning it in support. Why? Because I've seen how muslims treat christians in their countries and I think a little tit for tat is called for. If they want respect, they must learn to give some as well. Burning a book is a non-violent act of protest, it's protected, and in this case I think it is completely reasonable and called for.

[direwolf23]

[banner]

No one is talking about maiming anyone here.
Also I've always believed that saying to be FOS.

[direwolf23]

"Also I've always believed that saying to be FOS."

I'm not the least bit surprised. I mean, I do remember that time Jesus said, "Embrace vengeance, and do unto your fellow man what they did to you."

[deffox]

I now strongly desire for the burning to go ahead. I don't really care what the pastor's motivations are, but I do care that the international hoopla is ridiculous. To cave now would be an admission that murderous crazy muslims have taken away free people's rights from thousands of miles away. The reaction has transformed the event to be much larger and more important that it should be.

With the incessant media coverage I hope it's a large event. If it's just a few copies in a burn barrel, than big yawn.

[brianblackberry]

I strongly believe that pastor Jones will actually burn those books and the international 24 hour sensationalist media will turn this into a tabloid event. It will be talked about for a couple days after then the interest will be gone, his 15 minutes will be over and something else will upset the Muslim world.